Back to School Safety

Bus Stop Safety For Parents and Students:

• Arrive Early: Arriving at the bus stop a few minutes early helps avoid rushing, which can lead to accidents. • Wait Safely: Children should wait at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the curb. Teach children to stand back from the road and never approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop and the driver signals it’s safe to board. • Boarding and Exiting: Remind kids to use the handrail when getting on and off the bus and to avoid lingering near the bus where drivers may not see them. • Crossing the Street: Children should always cross in front of the bus, never behind, and only after making eye contact with the bus driver and being signaled to cross.

For Motorists:

• In every state, it is illegal for vehicle drivers to pass a school bus while the school bus stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. Failing to stop could result in injury or death to child pedestrians or their caretakers. Vehicle drivers must always come to a complete stop when a school bus stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. • The overall best practice is to “always stop if there’s a school bus.” • Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles. • Motorists may begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins to move. • Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.